We celebrate ‘women’s Christmas’ but not our female politicians

Last week, women celebrated Nollaig na mBan, or Women’s Little Christmas, a day when Mná na hÉireann take a well-earned rest and let the men take over the housework.

With its passing, maybe it’s time to reflect on this tradition and the status of women in Irish political life.

Our political system has a woefully poor track record of supporting Irish women who take a public stand on issues. I have lots of examples, but I will confine myself to just one. Roisín Shorthall, a former junior minister for health, stood up for transparency and openness in the allocation of primary-care centres.